Uncle Sam Wants Access To Air Passenger Net Usage

Citing the need for quick action in the event of a security threat, several government agencies have asked the FCC for broad inspection powers. The US government wants quick access, within ten minutes, to all communications conducted aboard airplanes should an emergency arise. That access they want exceeds what the government has for land-based Internet usage. "There is a short window of opportunity in which action can be taken to thwart a suicidal terrorist hijacking or remedy other crisis situations aboard an aircraft, and law enforcement needs to maximize its ability to respond to these potentially lethal situations," said Brownlee Thomas in Wired News. "That actually makes perfect sense." It's a difficult balancing act for government, as it continues to battle amongst itself on issues with the Patriot Act. No one has a clear idea of how much privacy must be sacrificed in order to properly safeguard citizens. David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business. Email him